Not Zenin huh? Good for you
Thud...
Darkness consumed him.
But it didn't last.
A sharp jolt surged through his body, and his senses returned—not to the familiar sights and smells of death, but to something alien. He awoke to a cold, hard ground beneath him, surrounded by towering neon lights and the hum of machinery. The air smelled metallic, and the sky above was choked with smog, lit faintly by the flickering glow of holographic advertisements.
He tried to rise, but his body wouldn't obey. Everything felt heavier, more oppressive. Somewhere in the distance, he heard footsteps and muffled voices, but they faded as he slipped into unconsciousness again.
When he woke again, it wasn't in the alley. The ceiling above him was cracked and yellowed, the faint scent of food cooking in the air. His body still ached, but his strength was returning. He heard someone humming softly nearby, and his eyes flicked to the source of the sound—a red-haired woman standing at a stove, stirring a pot.
She turned, noticing his movement, and gave a small smile. "You're awake," she said, wiping her hands on her apron. "Took you long enough."
Toji's voice was hoarse as he managed to croak, "Where am I?"
The woman leaned against the counter, her smile fading slightly. "Night City," she replied. "I found you in an alley bleeding and unconscious. Figured if the scavengers didn't get you, some gang would. You're lucky I came along."
Toji tried to sit up, his eyes narrowing. "Who are you?"
"Gloria," she answered simply. "And you, big guy? Who are you supposed to be?"
Toji didn't answer right away. He didn't know how to explain, or even if he wanted to. For now, he only knew one thing: wherever he was, it wasn't the world he came from.
And for the first time in his life, he felt truly lost.